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Gaston's Blog (34)

« C’est la première fois que nous discutons ensemble du Sida »

Une phrase que j’ai entendue tellement souvent pendant une autoévaluation. Hier, dans le quartier

Yolo Pinzi dans la cité de Kinshasa, le président du conseil local de la jeunesse a exprimé à nouveau cette même phrase.…

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Added by Gaston on March 29, 2010 at 12:19pm — 4 Comments

Un weekend avec SALT a Kinshasa

Samedi, 6hr du matin. C’est le weekend, mais le réveil sonne parce qu’aujourd’hui nous allons accompagner une nouvelle équipe des facilitateurs à Kinshasa. Sur invitation d’UNICEF 50 relais communautaires étaient formés par l’équipe de rêve (‘Dreamteam’) RDCCompetence. Ils ont appliqué l’approche sur 5 pratiques de la sante en famille, inclut la malaria, les maladie/…

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Added by Gaston on February 21, 2010 at 10:00pm — 2 Comments

The secret of Guyana

"What is the secret of Guyana?". This was the question my colleague asked me yesterday after seeing, hearing and reading the results after 9 days of learning event on AIDS Competence in Guyana. Apart from excellent organization, logistics, good preparation and impressive UNAIDS leadership, there was something else that made this event such a success.



Although Guyana is nr 114 on the ‘Human Development…

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Added by Gaston on February 11, 2010 at 3:32pm — 4 Comments

Community Life Competence Process as mainstreaming tool?

Mainstreaming. An issue that many of you deal with in some way. As the Constellation, we were asked to provide some inputs on a HIV mainstreaming strategy of a bi-lateral donor. Instead of reverting to the ‘standard’ arguments on how HIV is inherently linked to all kinds of other development issues, I took another stance. For me, the solution to effective mainstreaming can (again) be found in communities that respond.



Think back about the community visits you have done before….. How… Continue

Added by Gaston on November 1, 2009 at 8:17am — 5 Comments

Comment je suis devenu un fan de la RD-Congo

Un peu nerveux, je descends de l’avion de Nairobi. Enfin, j’entre la République Démocratique du Congo. 2 semaines à parler français dans un pays qui est normalement associé dans les journaux avec ‘un désordre’. Quand je disais à beaucoup de mes amis et famille que j’irais en RDC, ils ont dit : ‘Wow, ça n’est pas facile’ ou ‘pfff, ce sera un voyage dur dans un pays dur!’.



En fait, pour résumer ma mission en une phrase : ‘La RDC est un des… Continue

Added by Gaston on August 4, 2009 at 6:03am — 5 Comments

How I became a fan of DR-Congo

A little nervous I stepped out of the airplane from Nairobi. Finally, stepping foot in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 2 weeks of French speaking in a country that is generally known in the press as ‘being a mess’. When I told many of my friends or family that I was going to DRC, many would say: ‘Wow, that must not be easy’ or ‘pfff, tough trip’.



Well to sum up my trip in one sentence: ‘DRC is one of the most impressive countries with the… Continue

Added by Gaston on August 4, 2009 at 6:02am — 4 Comments

An Indian wealthy engineer or a transgender - who is most vulnerable?

It was already past midnight, but I thought it was time for a SALT visit 30,000 feet above sea level on my way to Kolkata. The Indian guy next to me was an engineer working on ships around the world for 6 months/ year. The other 6 months he spends with his family in Kolkata. After some small talk about work and his fear of losing his job in the economic crisis, he asked about my work. His questions came up: ‘If there are 10 Indians and 1 has HIV, can you see the difference? Can you get it… Continue

Added by Gaston on May 23, 2009 at 3:51pm — 4 Comments

Sustained action in PNG after projects come to an end

This is Regina from Genoka settlement in Goroka, Papua New Guinea. Genoka is one of the most notorious settlements in the country. No NGO has entered before, mainly due to safety concerns. Only occasional volunteers distribute condoms. Genoka is now one of the exemplary communities striving for AIDS Competence. Former criminals turned into community facilitators, people take action on their concerns and Regina is making ‘bilungs’ (woven bags) and hats… Continue

Added by Gaston on March 24, 2009 at 4:09am — 4 Comments

Incredibly useful fun without Powerpoints!

Driving through the hills of Northern Thailand, I am amazed how comfortable I feel with my Indonesian friends. I only know Eki, Gina, Lulu and the others for 4 days, although it feels like I just travelled with them for a month. We come back from Phayao where we visited Suwat, the public health official who is in his free time is a natural community ‘leader’ with a beautiful temple in his backyard. Yesterday, we had an incredible peer assist between Mali (represented by Sangare, coordinator for… Continue

Added by Gaston on February 8, 2009 at 3:03pm — 1 Comment

The Constellation is a Starfish organization

I sit in a packed train from Brussels to Amsterdam passing by snow covered villages in the beautiful Belgian countryside. I am reflecting about a very intense week and pondering how to summarize this in one blog.



It started with two days of reflective action with our multinational Core Facilitation Team (CFT) in Brussels about our ‘business models for the future’. Phil Forth tossed the most important word of the two days: FRACTAL. Like a snowflake consists of all similar snowflake… Continue

Added by Gaston on January 14, 2009 at 9:57am — 6 Comments

How my Dutch experience ends up in a Papua New Guinea Knowledge Asset

We got out in Tent City settlement in Lae exposed to the burning Papua New Guinea sun. 60 people from five provinces including the Deputy Mayor were packed in two full buses followed by a special security car for the WHO rep and the UNICEF vice-director. 30 settlers waited for us in the community. With almost 100 people, we did a peer assist in the community on the three priority practices of Tent City: Inclusion, Access to Treatment and Mobilising Resources. An incredibly rich experience and… Continue

Added by Gaston on December 5, 2008 at 6:37am — 1 Comment

Are we objects or subjects of development?

I belong to a strong community in Chiang Mai. My group of friends support and care for each other and the community tries sincerely to accept everybody. New people are given a warm welcome which causes many people to stay in Chiang Mai for much longer than they plan. They simply feel at home after they join our community. The welcome is characterized by a sincere acceptance of who you are and creating an environment to share and learn.



One of my best friends here is Gaura from… Continue

Added by Gaston on November 17, 2008 at 4:55pm — 2 Comments

3 short stories with a lot of SALT

1. The wedding



Suddenly the energy changes in the room. More than 60 people turn their minds into reflection. Gentle smiles occur throughout the room. I am at the wedding diner of my twin brother in the Netherlands. One minute ago, I took the microphone and invited people to express what they appreciate in the newlywed couple. ‘What strengths do you observe in this couple?’ What follows is a truly heart-warming and sincere flow of unique contributions ranging from parents to… Continue

Added by Gaston on October 31, 2008 at 9:11am — 3 Comments

2 weeks of transformation by SALT

The airport lobby of Abu Dhabi is surprisingly lively at 3.00 AM in the morning. Reflections on the past two weeks spin through my mind. My brain eagerly tries to extract a list of concrete principles that I learnt. It doesn’t work. These are not technical principles. My mind can’t do the synthesis alone; I need to listen to my heart as well to do justice to my learning.



Then Ian Campbell’s contribution pops up on why we are not ‘the Constellation for Community Competence’. Apart… Continue

Added by Gaston on October 1, 2008 at 9:28pm — 1 Comment

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